Traditions Ballenberg Open-Air Museum extended to include Neuenburg bowling alley

Bowling like in the old days: the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum has added a Neuenburg bowling alley to its collection. The lane was recreated according to old plans in order to keep the cultural heritage of the "Grand Jeu Neuchâtelois" alive.

The 19th century saw the heyday of the traditional game of skittles, which was not only played in Neuchâtel but also in the Bernese and Vaudois Jura.

The Neuchâtel version of skittles has a special feature: the throw only counts if the player hits the frontmost of the skittles arranged in a diamond.

The Neuchâtel skittle alley is located on the Ballenberg near the farmhouse in La Recorne/La Chaux-de-Fonds, as the open-air museum announced on Tuesday.

The Neuchâtel skittles game is included on the list of living traditions in Switzerland. This national list forms the basis and prerequisite for nominations of living traditions for the UNESCO lists of intangible cultural heritage.

www.ballenberg.ch; www.quilles.ch

SDA